Torrington- Lola Maria Keywan, 94, passed from this life to a better one on Tuesday, September 11, 2018 at Charlotte Hungerford Hospital. She was the beloved wife of the late Paul T. Keywan. Having come to the United States as a young war bride in September 1946, Lola has resided in Torrington since then.
She was born in Rome, Italy, on December 11, 1923, and was the daughter of the late Carlo and Amalia (Bisa) Benesso. She was employed by Fitzgerald Manufacturing and the Torrington Company, as well as Kay’s Curtain Shop and the Register Citizen. Along with her husband, Paul, she was also the co-proprietor of Fred’s Package Store in the north end of Torrington.
Lola was an active communicant of St. Maron Church, where she served as co-choir director for many years. She was also a member of the church’s Women’s and Mother’s clubs. She belonged to the Torrington Council of Catholic Women, St. Peter’s Holy Rosary Society, and Third Order of Secular Franciscans.
For a brief period of time, she was also a member of the St. Peter’s Choir. True to her heritage and respectful of her husband’s, Lola was an active member of both the Anita Garibaldi Lodge and the Lebanon American Society. Throughout her life, Lola was able to travel to Italy many times to visit family and friends.
She also enjoyed trips to Ireland, Canada, and California. She loved seeing new places and learning about them. Among her favorite pastimes were visits to New York to try different restaurants and see Broadway shows.
Her hobbies included knitting, crocheting, sewing, reading, and singing – especially opera. She had a beautiful voice and won a competition to study opera at La Scala in Milan, Italy. Lola also loved to cook and learned how to prepare Lebanese dishes from her father-in-law, Azer Keywan.
She is survived by a daughter, Adla M. Keywan of Torrington and several nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by a brother, Luigi Benesso and a sister, Adele (Benesso) Bigi. During her final days at Charlotte Hungerford Hospital, Lola was treated with dignity and compassion by the entire fourth floor staff.
All who met her were compelled to comment on her beautiful eyes, smile, and spirit. Funeral services will be held Monday, September 17, 2018 at 9:00a.m. from Gleeson-Ryan Funeral Home, 258 Prospect St., Torrington, to St. Maron Church, 613 Main St., Torrington, for the Divine Liturgy of the Resurrection at 10:00a.m. Burial will follow in New St. Francis Cemetery, Torrington. Friends may call Sunday, September 16, 2018 from 2:00 to 4:00p.m. at Gleeson-Ryan Funeral Home.
Memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105, or St. Maron’s Church Building Fund, 613 Main St., Torrington, CT 06790 or The Office of Radio and Television of the Archdiocese of Hartford, 15 Peach Orchard Rd. , Prospect, CT 06712.
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